Drawing-off mechanism for circle-combs.



No. 862,980. PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

I A. LONG & R. FOSTER.

DRAWING-OFP MEGHANISM POR CIRCLE GOMBS. APPLIOATION FILED DBG. 18. 190s.

PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907. A. LONG. & R. FOSTER.

DRAWING-OFF MEGHANISM POR IRCL COMBS.

V..1'1 I.I0MI0N FILED 1120.18. 1903.

7 3 SHEETS-HEET 2.

jg Z.

110.662,98@ PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907. A. Loman R. POSTER.

DRAWING-OFF MEGHANISM FOR CIRCLE COMBS. APPLICATION FIL-11D 1320.18. 1'9'03.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@isf/I* UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

ALBERT LONG, OF LAWRENCE, AND ROBERT FOSTER, OF METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS; SAID FOSTER ASSIGNOR TO SAID LONG.

DRAWING-OFF MECHANISM FOR CIRCLE-COMBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed December 18,1903. Serial No. 136,623.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT LONG and ROBERT Fos- TER, of Lawrence and Methuen, respectively, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drawing-Off Mechanism for Circle-Combs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement on the drawingoff mechanism for circle combs described in our Letters Patent Nos. 606,564, llune 28, 1898, and 679,975, August 6, 1901, which includes drawing-off devices composed of smooth-surfaced co-acting cylindrical rolls instead of luted rolls and leather aprons.

The object of the present invention is to more effectively guide the fringe toward the drawing-ofi device of the large circle by means of an improved licker-in construction and to guide the fringe to said licker-in; to furnish an improved and economical means for propelling the sliver between the drawing-off devices of the large and small circles; to effectively clear the rolls; to improve the means for mounting and guiding the licker-in and the sliver-propelling means intermediate between the drawing-off devices; to intercept air currents acting on the fringe; and to facilitate the passage between the rolls of foreign substances in the wool.

Of the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 represents a horizontal section of drawing-off mechanism-for circle combs constructed according to our invention. Fig. 2 represents an elevation, looking toward the licker-in and the drawing-head of the large circle. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a vertical section of the support for the outer pulley of the licker-in belt. Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, Fig. 6 represents a detail end elevation of the fringe-guide and concaver for the licker-in belt. Fig. 7 represents a section on line 7--7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 represents a detail elevation of the clearing device for oneof the rolls of the small-circle drawing-off device. Fig. 9 represents a diagrammatic plan view of the arrangement of parts with respect to the large and small circles. Fig. l0 represents a section on line 10--10 of Fig. 2.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, 20 (Fig. 9) is a portion of the large toothed circle of a Noble comb and 21 is the small toothed circle.

22 denotes as a whole the drawing-off head of the large circle composed of the three smooth-surfaced cylindrical drawing-off rolls 23 24 25 geared together and driven by a shaft 26 on the central roll, and 27 denotes as a whole the drawing-off head of the small circle composed of smooth-surfaced cylindrical rolls 28 29 30 similarly geared together and driven by a shaft 3l on the middle roll. It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the roll 23 oi the large-circle head is formed with a circumferential groove 32 for properlylguiding and concentrating the fringe into a sliver, as described in our aforesaid patent No. 679,975, the depth of said groove being exaggerated for clearness.

33 is the licker-in belt adjacent the large circle for slanting the fringe'thereof into the nip of the rolls 23 24, said belt being supported at its outer end on a driving pulley 34, and at its inner end on idle pulley 35. The shaft 36 of the pulley 34 is journaled in a bearing 37 formed on a plate 38 (Figs. 2 and 5) which is adjustably secured to a portion 39 of the comb-framework by a bolt 40 occupying slot 4l in the plate, whereby the pulley 34 is given an adjustment laterally to increase or decrease its distance from 'the toothed circle 20 and also longitudinally of the belt 33 to take up the slack in said belt. On the lower end of the pulleyshaft 36 is a bevel gear 42 meshing with a coinplemental bevel gear 43 secured by set-screw 44 to a horizontal shaft 45, the latter connecting through bevel gears 46 47 with the driving-shaft 26 of the large-circle drawing-off head whereby the belt-pulley 34 is driven from said head. A bracket 48 embracing the shafts 26 and 45 as shown in Fig. 3, permits the lateral adjustment of the bearing 37 hereinbefore mentioned, andthe adjustment for stretch of the licker-in belt is attained by shifting the gear 43 and a bracket 49 which embraces the shaft 45 and bearing 37, said bracket being secured by set-screw 50 to said bearing, whereby the pulley 34 may be adjusted vertically.

The belt 33 travels faster than the peripheral speed of the rolls 23 24 25 as will be evident from an inspection of the drawings.

The inoperative stretch of the licker-in belt 33 is guided by an abutment 5l on which is a bracket 52 supporting a concaved or V-shaped belt-former 53. The latter rests behind the operative stretch of the belt 33 and imparts a concave form to the belt as seen in Fig. 7, whereby the fringe is more effectively guided and concentrated within the zone of the belt and properly directed toward the groove 32 of the drawing-roll 23. Also mounted in the bracket 52 is a wire fringeguide or support 54 interposed between the licker-in belt and the toothed circle for sustaining the fringe projecting from said circle and properly maintaining it within the zone of the belt. Said fringe-guide extends in a general horizontal direction and is curved downwardly at both ends to give the fringe a gradual entrance and delivery. The guide 54 has a vertical stem or shank 55 secured by a set-screw 56 in the bracket 52 for purposes of vertical adjustment.

The lower side of the pulley 34 is provided with a horizontal ange 57 extending a substantial distance toward the large circle underneath the fringe, the obnog ject of which is to intercept the resultant down draft of air which is encountered in most combs and is due to the heating of the air below the circle by the steambox, which down-draft has formerly tended to slant the fringe downwardly.

j 1t will be noted in Fig. 1 that the first roll 23 and last roll 25 of the large-circle drawing-head are in contact with cach other, these rolls rotating in the same direction and their contacting portions accordingly traveling in opposite directions. The roll 25 therefore acts as a clearer for the roll 23, serving to prevent the passage of fibel' around the roll 23 instead of onward with the sliver. Said roll 25 also is mounted ina holder yieldingly actuated by adjustable spring pressure toward the central roll 24 and movable therefrom against such pressure, as in our prior patent blo.` 679,975, and in addition the holder is given such looseness in its guides'that its end which holds the roll may move laterally. The spring pressure normally holds roll 25 in Contact with roll 23, but when a lump of matted wool, a bur, twig or bit of other foreign matter is carried into Contact with the rolls with the sliver, roll 25 is enabled to give way instantly in a lateral direction `and subsequently to be' forced radially away from the central roll against the spring pressure without cramping or binding the holder against its guides.

58 is a carrying belt mounted on a driving pulley 59 at the small-circle drawing-head and an idle pulley 60 at the large-circle drawing-head for the purpose of propelling the sliver from the large circle between the heads and introducing it to the nip of the small-circle rolls 28 29, where it combines with the sliver from the small circle. Contrary to our former practice, this belt is the sole intermediate propelling means and is opposed on the other side of the path of the sliver by a stationary elongated guide 61, preferably made of polished metal against whose surface the sliver slips with small friction. This guide is adjustable toward and from the operative stretch of the belt by means of a bracket G2 having bolt and slot mounting. An adjustable idle pulley 63 preserves the tension of the belt. Thel operative stretch of belt 58 being on the side of the path of the sliver opposite to the throat between the large and small circles, said stretch may -be of such length as to propel and support the sliver throughout the desired distance between the heads. It will be seen that the pulley 59 is driven by gear 64 on the shaft 31 of the small-circle drawing-off head and an intermeshing gear 65 on the pulley-shaft. The belt 58 is then driven from the small-circle drawing-off head and the belt 33 independently from the largecircle drawing-off head. By reason of this construction and by adjusting the belt 58 to proper length, the drawing-off head may be fitted to many different styles of combs. I

1n connection with the middle roll 29 of the smallcircle headV we provide an improved clearer for preventing the fiber from following the periphery of said roll, the same comprising a pair of flexible plates 66 slightly flaring at the operative ends and embracing between them an arc of the roll. These plates are riveted to a stoutcr plate 67 mounted on an adjustable bracket 68. These clearers 66 automatically position themselves in a lateral or horizontal direction with respect to the surface of the roll 29 and by reason of a slight elasticity of the plate 67 permitting a limited pivotal or swinging movement thereof with respect to its fixed point or support, the plates 6G have a joint swinging movement, whereby lateral pressure on one is communicated to the other through the plate G7, the plates being thereby automatically positioned.

We provide the nipping zone of the grooved roll 23 of the large-circle drawing-head with an arched or substantially V-shaped longitudinal groove 70 occupying the bottom of the circumferential groove and composed of upper and lower limbs converging backwardly or in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the roll. More than one of these grooves may be provided if desired. The object of the .groove is to allow for the passage of foreign matter, such as parti-.

cles of burs which are found in the wool which have 'v heretofore accumulated to some extent at the entrance v lany tendency to cut the-fiber.

It will be understood that the improvements herein set forth are not confined to theeXact construction shown, but lmay be variously embodied without depaiting from the spirit of the invention.

We claimz- 1. In a drawing-oft' mechanism for circle combs, the combination with the large toothedcrcle, of a drawing-off devicetherofor mounted within the circle, a licker-in belt antecedent to salddrawing-off device and speeded faster than the latter for slanting the fringetoward said device, and a stationary guide between said circle and belt for elevating and. sustaining the fringe within the zone of said belt.

2. In drawing-oil" mechanism for circle combs, the combination with the toothed circle, of a drawing-off device,

and an endless licker-in belt therefor' having an operative' stretch concaved to form :i longitudinal channel or trough for the sliver.

3. In drawing-off mechanism for circle combs, the combination with the toothed circle, of a licker-in belt to slant the fringe thereon, and a concave former back of the operative stretch of said belt for imparting a trough-shape to said stretch.

4. In drawing-oil? mechanism for circle combs, the combination with the toothed circle, of a drawing-off device therefor including a smooth-surfaced cylindrical roll formed with a circumferential sliver-groove, and a concave licher-in to direct the fringe intov said groove.

5, In drawing-oft mechanism for circle combs, the combination with the toothed circle, of a drawing-off device therefor including a smooth-surfaced cylindrical roll formed with a circumferential sliver-groove, and a lickerin belt having an operative stretch substantially alinedt roll, a concaved licker-in antecedent thereto, and .fi-inge.

supporting means adjacent the circle for directing the fringe into the concavity of said licker-in.

7. In drawing-off mechanism for circle combs, the combination with the toothed circle, of a licker-in beltadjacent the circle concaved Vto form a longitudinal channel for the sliver, and fringe-sustaining means between said belt and the circle arranged to direct the fringe into said channel.

S. In drawing-off mechanism for circle combs, the combination ot a smooth-surfaced drawing-olf roll, and a pair ol flexible clear-ers embracing between them an arc of the roll and connected and mounted for joint lateral movement.

Sl. In drawing-ott mechanism for circle combs, the combination with the drawing-off devices .for the large and small circles, ol a licker-in for the large circle, sliver-propelling means interposed between the drawing-oli devices connections between the large-circle drawing-olf device and the licker-in lor driving the latter, and independent connections between the small-circle drawing-ofi:` device and the sliver-propelling means for driving said means,

10. In drawing-off mechanism for circle combs, the combination with the toothed circle, ot' a licker-in belt therefor, a drawing-off device for said circle having an upright driving-shaft, a driving-pulley for said belt adjustable laterally of the toothed circle and longitudinally of the belt, driving connections between said shaft and pulley includ` ing gearing at the shaft, gearing at the pulley, and a substantially horizontal angularly-adjustable shaft connectingl said gearing. and provisions i'or adjusting the p ullcy gearing longitudinally of said horizontal shaft.

l1. In drawing-off mechanism for circle combs, the combination with the toothed circle, of a drawing-oil. device, a

licker-in belt to'slant the fringe toward said device, and a pulley supporting said belt and having a ilange extended a substantial distance toward the circle to intercept air-currents traversing the fringe.

12. In drawing-oit mechanism for circle combs, a smoothsurfaced drawing-ott' roll formed on its nipping-zone with a longitudinal groove o1' gutter.

13. In drawing-off mechanism for circle combs, a smoothsurfaced drawing-oil roll formed on its nipping-zone with a groove inclined to the longitudinal elements of the rollsurface.

let. In drawing-oit' mechanism for circle combs, a smoothsurfaced drawing-oft' roll formed on its nipping-zone with a circumferential groove, and a longitudinal groove in the bottom o1' said circumferential groove having limbs converging in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation ol' the roll.

In testimony whereof we have ailixed our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT LONG.

ROBERT FOSTER. Witnesses ALFRED DonsoN, DUNCAN Woon. 

